Windows computer help please

[bobmac]

Hi, I've just had a phone call from someone at Microsoft saying I have malicious files on my computer and asked me to press the windows button and R at the same time.
I was suspicious so asked for her phone no and name to check and the no. doesnt work. Has anyone else heard of this happening?
Thanks

 

[Aztecs27]

Really?

I hope you're kidding, but just incase you're not - No your computer isn't infected (well, it might be, but someone calling you on the phone would not know it was, especially if they claimed they were from MS) and secondly, download Malwarebytes (free) if you're concerned.

Or just buy a Mac

 

[Spoff]

I use Comodo firewall and Avast anti-virus - both free downloads and work well.

What does Windows & R do, anyone know?

 

[Aztecs27]

I use Comodo firewall and Avast anti-virus - both free downloads and work well.

What does Windows & R do, anyone know?

Brings up the "Run" window.

 

[Ken_A]

Hi, I've just had a phone call from someone at Microsoft saying I have malicious files on my computer and asked me to press the windows button and R at the same time.
I was suspicious so asked for her phone no and name to check and the no. doesnt work. Has anyone else heard of this happening?
Thanks

WTF that just brings up the run window - perhaps they where going to use the Irish virus - thats the one where you delete all your files yourself :-/

 

[bobmac]

She was going to tell me what to type in the run box to show what files were there but didn't let her get that far.

 

[Aztecs27]

She was going to tell me what to type in the run box to show what files were there but didn't let her get that far.

LOL! Thank goodness for that.

 

[Spoff]

Bob, if you want ti guarentee your system us clear press Ctrl + Alt + down arrow key then follow on screen instructions.

 

[Doc]

It's a scam Bob, just google microsoft virus phone call

The fraud prevention people would love to here from you on this

below link from microsoft

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windo...58-0079764bb001

hope this helps

steve...

 

[surefire]

As others have said, you did the right thing, as the scam is that they get you to install something that then makes your computer vulnerable, so gives away your online banking details or similar.

These days the easiest way to breach security on a computer tends to be through the user, hence they take this approach, as there are many people out there with insufficient knowledge to challenge this kind of thing.

Never actually had the calls myself, but the biggest giveaway was when 'Microsoft' called one of my work colleagues telling him his copy of Windows had a virus - the problem was he only runs various flavours of UNIX on his machines.

 

[chrisd]

As Doc says its a scam, we had a similar call and I asked how they would know my system was faulty and it was quite clearly a scam from the answers given


Chris

 

[brendy]

As above it is a scam, they will try to gain remote access to your pc and steal information.

 

[bobmac]

Thanks for the help guys.
I've downloaded AVAST (thanks Spoff) and its done a scan and all is well

 

[chris661]

I got this phone call at lunch after reading this this morning! they kept banging on about the central server so I asked them for my IP address, silence for about 15 seconds then just the same old central server line

Told them to beat it and not call again!!

here is a link to a thread about it

 

[brendy]

I will be telling them that I have Ubuntu and not windows and ask them how they got my details, they shouldnt hang about on the line much after that.

 

[chris661]

They tried HID's mother who started laughing as she never had a computer! Told them and they just hung up.

 

[Ethan]

Everyone who has a Windows machine has malicious files on their computer.

 

[surefire]

Everyone who has a Windows machine has malicious files on their computer.

I assume this is a reference Macs being superior?

In reality the security of a Windows PC and a Mac are pretty even, although there seems to be a bit of a myth amongst some Mac users that their machines have far superior security.

The Windows market is not helped by the fact that so many people use it, the numbers game makes it more worthwhile to try and exploit windows more than any other OS, as this scam shows.

 

[RobCowan]

Bob,

Do you still have the details that you were given? Through one of my professional groups, I have a contact at Microsoft who has asked us to pass on any information we can get hold of regarding these "businesses" so that MS can take action.

If you could PM me the info I will pass it on to MS for them to look into.

Incidentally, these "businesses" are using a number of different fronts including claiming to be from Microsoft or from "Windows" or in other cases, simply giving you a different company name altogether. Best advice is always get any info you can from them and then hang up.

RobC.

 

[RGDave]

Everyone who has a Windows machine has malicious files on their computer.

What - Microsoft software?